---

(Six Degrees)

Blame it on Talvin Singh. Introducing his Anokha nightclub in London on the crest of the Cool Britannia wave, Singh brought the sound of the Asian underground dance culture to the forefront. Now the mixing of the millennia-old tabla with computer-aided loops, the sarangi (an Indian cello) with an electric guitar seems nearly familiar. Especially if it's all released on growing world fusion powerhouse label Six Degrees.

If your reaction is so blasé though, you'll be missing one of the brightest lights on the scene. Twenty-something New Yorker, by way of England and India, Karsh Kale (pronounced kursh ka-leh) is equally at home behind a kit or with a tabla at his knees. Add to this contributions from Ustad Sultan Khan and the ubiquitous Zakir Hussain and Bill Laswell, along with a host of others, for a 22nd Century sound that is as comfortable in your home as at the clubs you keep hearing about, but never going to. Indeed, Kale feels his music is for somewhere between the dance floor and chill out room, or just right for at-home listening.

Kale's description is best noted in consecutive tracks "Anja" and "Home." "Anja" incorporates the bansuri, an Indian flute, in a slow, winding intro with the vocals of Vidya Shah until the drum kit picks up a reggae cadence to counter the faster tabla rhythm. "Home" packs a much speedier punch and features the sarangi-guitar combo over which vocalist Shahad Siddiqui sings his comfort of finding home in music. Make more space on your CD rack.

Rating: 8

-- Tim Frommer

Artists l Essays l The List l Sites & Sounds

New Issue l Best Of l Fave Links l About Us